1 Month Mark

1 month down, 11 more to go!

October 12th officially marked one month since I landed in France. Crazy to think that a whole month has gone by, right?? After a few more weeks, it will be the longest I've ever consecutively been away from home/LA...second to my 5 week trip to Peru in 2007.

I suppose things are finally starting to sink in. I definitely planned this trip without thinking about the time or distance, on purpose of course. The last thing I wanted to do was psych myself out and end up being too afraid to go. But now that I'm here, the distance has definitely become a reality - especially when talking to the other au pairs. For everyone else, home is usually at maximum 2 hours away...either by plane or train. The other girls get to go home for Christmas, call their families in the same time zone, not have to worry about exchange rates in currency (for the most part). It never occurred to me when I left that I would be the most foreign one here...well, as far as distance goes.

I suppose a little bit of homesickness has been seeping through. But then I think about it, and I think about how amazing it is that I'm here. I made it! I'm living the dream. I eat brie with my dinner every night. What more could a girl ask for?

I definitely expected this around the first month. I was mentally prepared to face homesickness. Really, I just have to make it through the holidays and then I'll be fine. Starting the first week of January, I have 2 weeks vacation! And it'll be off to Paris for me :)

Maybe I need some kind of change to distract me...I have been feeling the itch for something different lately...perhaps a new haircut? Piercing? Tattoo? All of the above?? I'll keep you posted. After all, when in Rome...

I do want to give a big THANK YOU to my big brother, Johnny for sending me mail :) I was so pleased to receive not only a Halloween card, but a Congratulations card for my graduation (in June) and a Happy Birthday card for my belated birthday (in August)! Better late than never, right Johnny?? Especially since he is the ONLY ONE SO FAR to have sent me anything!!!

(Hint hint, my loyal readers...)

Ok that's a lie...Mallory sent me something too, but she LIVES in France and she's already come to visit me so really it's just no competition. Plus it just sounds more dramatic to say that Johnny is the only one to have sent me anything.

Even a simple postcard is greatly appreciated! Did I mention I collect those??? Photos would be grand too...

I will leave you with a picture of the gigantic wheel of brie that is the ongoing joke over here because my host family has to replenish it every week...because of me :)